• Marine Corps Commandant James Amos urges Marines to "save every round, every gallon of gas" amid bud
    41 replies, posted
[quote](CNN) – United States Marines are being told to preserve ammunition and gasoline as a deal softening the impact of automatic spending cuts continues to elude leaders in Washington. Marine Corps Commandant James Amos urged personnel in a video posted online Friday to "save every round, every gallon of gas," and to "take every single aspect or opportunity in training to get the most bang for the buck," a reminder of the cuts' immediate effect on the U.S. military. The Marine Corps and other branches are being forced to cut billions from their budgets as the result of the spending cuts, which were triggered March 1 when Congress and the White House failed to strike a deal reducing the federal debt. In a letter to all Marines dated March 2, Amos said his branch would cut $1.4 billion in 2013 and $2 billion in every ensuing year for nearly a decade. State-by-state reports produced by the White House indicated the military slashes would be seen in delayed maintenance for military equipment and canceled air shows, along with furloughs for civilian defense personnel. Salaries for enlisted personnel are exempt from the budget cuts. "This is no time to do business as usual," Amos said in the video. "Things have changed. The landscape's changed. We need you to be conservative in the way you do business, I need you to think about conserving our assets, and I need you to become part of the solution as it relates to sacrifice." The primary goal of the Marines going forward will be to preserve the corps' readiness, Amos said, including initiatives to "recapitalize" and "modernize" the institution. But for now, Amos indicated Marine leaders will be focused on "moving money around" and looking at more ways to reduce spending.[/quote] [url]http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/11/desperate-times-marines-told-to-save-every-round/[/url]
'Save every round and save every gallon of gas' Well that's kind of expected in modern combat terms, dontcha think? Strategy is nothing, logistics is everything.
Considering that the Marines operate on table scraps as is this isn't going to go well.
I feel like there are places to cut the military budget that do not involve this kind of worry. Close a few international bases and maybe veterans and enlisted men can get scholarships again? These cuts make no sense.
The obvious solution would be to cut bases and manpower, ceasing to harass small countries with warships might save some money too.
[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;40030127]'Save every round and save every gallon of gas' Well that's kind of expected in modern combat terms, dontcha think? Strategy is nothing, logistics is everything.[/QUOTE] More in line with what the fellow in your avatar would have been told. That it's been allowed to get to this point at all is staggering, it's one thing to draw down on military spending when there are no troops deployed, but to do so while they are still deployed is a massive failure in leadership at it's highest level.
[QUOTE=RR_Raptor65;40030275]More in line with what the fellow in your avatar would have been told. That it's been allowed to get to this point at all is staggering, it's one thing to draw down on military spending when there are no troops deployed, but to do so while they are still deployed is a massive failure in leadership at it's highest level.[/QUOTE] On the bright side, the odds of America entering another interventionist conflict any time soon is greatly diminished. (I hope)
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40030305]On the bright side, the odds of America entering another interventionist conflict any time soon is greatly diminished. (I hope)[/QUOTE] Not really. If some politician wants a war, it'll happen regardless of if the military is funded well or not. My hopes are for that congress will get a budget passed, so that we can stop telling our civilians "yea we're going to need you to stop showing up to work", and so that we can stop telling our marines/airmen/sailors/soldiers "yea we know you need the benefits, but fuck you"
[QUOTE=gunship;40030371]Not really. [B]If some politician wants a war, it'll happen regardless of if the military is funded well or not.[/B] My hopes are for that congress will get a budget passed, so that we can stop telling our civilians "yea we're going to need you to stop showing up to work", and so that we can stop telling our marines/airmen/sailors/soldiers "yea we know you need the benefits, but fuck you"[/QUOTE] The bold part made me chuckle. It's like saying, "If a man wants to fly, he'll sprout wings whether he can or not".
[QUOTE=gunship;40030371]Not really. If some politician wants a war, it'll happen regardless of if the military is funded well or not. My hopes are for that congress will get a budget passed, so that we can stop telling our civilians "yea we're going to need you to stop showing up to work", and so that we can stop telling our marines/airmen/sailors/soldiers "yea we know you need the benefits, but fuck you"[/QUOTE] Well $1tn deficit has to go somehow.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40030388]The bold part made me chuckle. It's like saying, "If a man wants to fly, he'll sprout wings whether he can or not".[/QUOTE] Thats implying politicians follow logic and reason.
[QUOTE=Trunk Monkay;40030407]Thats implying politicians follow logic and reason.[/QUOTE] A politician can say all he wants, doesn't mean it can physically happen.
"Amos said his branch would cut $1.4 billion in 2013 and $2 billion in every ensuing year for nearly a decade." Good god, if this is only over half of whats going to happen every year for the next 10 years, there will be nothing left, going off where they are trimming the fat.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40030388]The bold part made me chuckle. It's like saying, "If a man wants to fly, he'll sprout wings whether he can or not".[/QUOTE] I dont think you understand. I work at a small MTF as a corpsman, we've had to ration suture materials and bulk gauze, because we can only place orders once a month. Walking into the pharmacy is embarrasing because the shelves are almost empty half the time. Our CO, a great guy by the way, has been arguing until he was horse, that we need more funding, and yet unfortunately we have 0 funds for anything but bare needs. God help someone who comes in with something severe. When I say we'd have a war whether or not we're funded, we REALLY would. [editline]25th March 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=laserguided;40030393]Well $1tn deficit has to go somehow.[/QUOTE] It could be cut from numerous places in the military, instead they cut it from benefits, and needed articles, instead of cutting, i dunno, the HUGE order of tanks that the army flat out doesn't want or need. That'd be a good start...
99 things to cut back on and one of the first things the marine corps cuts back on is tuition support ???
[QUOTE=W0w00t;40030470]99 things to cut back on and one of the first things the marine corps cuts back on is tuition support ???[/QUOTE] "Military intelligence"
[QUOTE=gunship;40030447]I dont think you understand. I work at a small MTF as a corpsman, we've had to ration suture materials and bulk gauze, because we can only place orders once a month. Walking into the pharmacy is embarrasing because the shelves are almost empty half the time. Our CO, a great guy by the way, has been arguing until he was horse, that we need more funding, and yet unfortunately we have 0 funds for anything but bare needs. God help someone who comes in with something severe. When I say we'd have a war whether or not we're funded, we REALLY would. [editline]25th March 2013[/editline] It could be cut from numerous places in the military, instead they cut it from benefits, and needed articles, instead of cutting, i dunno, the HUGE order of tanks that the army flat out doesn't want or need. That'd be a good start...[/QUOTE] they might not want to cut back on capability.
[QUOTE=gunship;40030447]I dont think you understand. I work at a small MTF as a corpsman, we've had to ration suture materials and bulk gauze, because we can only place orders once a month. Walking into the pharmacy is embarrasing because the shelves are almost empty half the time. Our CO, a great guy by the way, has been arguing until he was horse, that we need more funding, and yet unfortunately we have 0 funds for anything but bare needs. God help someone who comes in with something severe. When I say we'd have a war whether or not we're funded, we REALLY would. [/QUOTE] I still don't see it happening.
Im going to be that guy, and just going to point out the F-35 and its budget.
[QUOTE=laserguided;40030479]they might not want to cut back on capability.[/QUOTE] But they already have? If we're rationing gas and rounds, meaning that we can't train as effectively, aren't we reducing our capabilities? If we cant afford to maintain our equipment, we've defiantly reduced our abilities. We could reduce our operating costs by slashing RnD budgets, getting rid of equipment that is ABSOLUTELY out of date, and stopping the idiotic idea that we buy shit on contract, rather than from the market. When you pay 80$ for 4ft Ethernet cable, SHIT IS WRONG (not an exaggeration if you look in the supply order system, its fucking 80$)
[QUOTE=gunship;40030447]I dont think you understand. I work at a small MTF as a corpsman, we've had to ration suture materials and bulk gauze, because we can only place orders once a month. Walking into the pharmacy is embarrasing because the shelves are almost empty half the time. Our CO, a great guy by the way, has been arguing until he was horse, that we need more funding, and yet unfortunately we have 0 funds for anything but bare needs. God help someone who comes in with something severe. When I say we'd have a war whether or not we're funded, we REALLY would. [editline]25th March 2013[/editline] It could be cut from numberous places in the military, instead they cut it from benefits, and needed articles, instead of cutting, i dunno, the HUGE order of tanks that the army flat out doesn't want or need. That'd be a good start...[/QUOTE] Every time I hear stuff like this, I have to stop and check to make sure it's not an excerpt from The Forgotten Soldier. Maybe they'll reissue "Elements of Field Hygiene and Sanitation" instead of toilet paper soon. Using original 1918 copies because they won't pass a budget to pay for reprints. There's a great section on how to incinerate your own shit, great for the winter cold. [QUOTE=ScoutKing;40030488]Im going to be that guy, and just going to point out the F-35 and its budget.[/QUOTE] Oh but that would be admitting they failed. They can't admit they failed, that means they'd have to admit to poor leadership and of course it's not [B]their [/B]fault, it's yours for not paying enough taxes.
[QUOTE=ScoutKing;40030488]Im going to be that guy, and just going to point out the F-35 and its budget.[/QUOTE] What budget? You mean the blank check the DoD handed them?
And then the Commandant started talking about "Metal Gears", and we all felt kinda lost. [editline]25th March 2013[/editline] But then one of the screens changed to softcore pornography, so it's alright.
Maybe we should cut the massive vaporware development projects instead? No It's probably better to cut physical supplies and personnel than to even think of touching lockheed or gdls profits.
[QUOTE=zakedodead;40031180]Maybe we should cut the massive vaporware development projects instead? No It's probably better to cut physical supplies and personnel than to even think of touching lockheed or gdls profits.[/QUOTE] Or if they absolutely must throw money at things, throw it at NASA and/or DARPA. Least the things they work on have more applications than just an over-engineered, over-priced fighter plane. Doubt you'll ever see an F35 being used for search and rescue for example. Guess you could cook some hot dogs with the exhaust for the time it runs without breaking down though I suppose.
Combat search and rescue, perhaps.
[QUOTE=laserguided;40030249]The obvious solution would be to cut bases and manpower, ceasing to harass small countries with warships might save some money too.[/QUOTE] We could cut half of our Aircraft carriers, surely that would save a fuckton of money, and we don't even need that many. One Aircraft carrier can house half as many aircraft as all of Chicago O'hare
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40030476]"Military intelligence"[/QUOTE] Off topic but I never understood how that is an oxymoron. Am I missing something?
[QUOTE=Apache249;40031347]Combat search and rescue, perhaps.[/QUOTE] Your avatar doesn't need to repeat bud
[QUOTE=FlakAttack;40031487]Off topic but I never understood how that is an oxymoron. Am I missing something?[/QUOTE] shoot thing make thing blow up he hur he
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.